"One More Cafe" in Ankara

We are surrounded with hate. People hate each other; They hate the beliefs and lifestyles of those who are not like them. In a turbulent new world, ethnicism, nationalism, xenophobia, racism, tribalism and sexism are all making a comeback. Protofascism is upon us.

Most rational people simply ignore hate and hate speech. But the language of hate goes a long way and it should not be ignored. Demagogues use the language of hate to quickly capture power and hold on to it. Some so called "intellectuals" and "public figures" downplay their own messages of hatred. But, inspired by the language of hate, someone-somewhere funnels their hate into acts of terror. Innocent people die.

I don't know who is really responsible for the bombing in Ankara - we may never find out. But, in the recent years, the political language in Turkey - as all over the world - has increasingly taken a "us versus them" tone; And there are many "them".